Crime Beat

Report from Mission Station

By Officer Jane WarnerSan Francisco Patrol Special Police

The following crime summaries were culled from reports filed at Mission Police Station. They cover some but not all incidents occurring in northern Noe Valley, which is loosely defined as the area bordered by Grand View, 20th, Guerrero, and Cesar Chavez streets. Incidents occurred during the period Sept. 28 to Oct. 18, 2008.

Burglary, 4100 block of 24th, 9-28-08, 8:22 a.m. (reported): When the owner showed up at her 24th Street cafe the morning of Sept. 28, she discovered the cash register drawer lying on the floor of the kitchen and half a gallon of milk sitting on the counter. The owner also discovered the back door slightly ajar. After taking inventory, she called 911. Officers soon arrived and determined the suspect(s) gained entry through an unlocked window and left through the back door. Approximately $900 was missing from the register.

Battery, Jersey and Vicksburg, 10-16-08, 11 a.m.: A woman walking west on Jersey Street suddenly felt something hit her on the back. The woman turned to see what it was and saw two teenage girls standing behind her holding snowballs. The woman did not know where the girls had gotten the snowballs, but told them not to throw any more at her. One of the girls, who appeared to be about 14, threw another snowball at the woman, striking her below the left eye, leaving an abrasion. The two suspects laughed and ran away eastbound on Jersey Street. The woman reported the incident to police, but refused medical attention, stating she wasn't seriously injured.

Theft from Vehicle, 900 block of Sanchez, 10-16-08, 9:16 p.m. (reported): While inside her house, a woman heard a commotion outside and looked out her front door to see what was going on. The woman saw a strange man leaning forward into the passenger side of her parked vehicle. "What are you doing?" the woman asked the man. "I'm taking a piss," he replied. The woman ran down the stairs of her house toward the man, screaming for him to get away from her car. The suspect, described as a five-foot-six white male, 25 to 30 years old, 160 pounds, with brown hair, wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans, ran southbound on Sanchez. The woman discovered that her purse, containing her wallet, credit cards, driver's license, and $40 in cash, was missing. Officers responded to the scene to take a report. The woman told officers she may not have locked her car.

Theft: 900 block of Noe, 10-17-08, 9:41 a.m. (reported): A woman reported to police that someone had stolen her mail. The resident told officers she had checked her mailbox three days ago and had observed several letters. The woman didn't collect the mail and went back three days later, but the mailbox was empty. The woman estimated that about 30 pieces of mail, including some Netflix DVDs, were missing Officers filed a report and forwarded a copy to the U.S. Postal Service police.

Stolen License Plates, 4300 block of 26th, 10-17-08, 10:20 p.m. (reported): While getting into her Volvo station wagon parked in her driveway, a woman noticed that the car had different license plates. The woman called 911 to report the incident, and an officer came to her house to take a report. The arriving officer ran a computer check on the plates that were attached to her wagon, and discovered they had been reported stolen as well. The officer contacted the reporting party to that theft, a resident on the Great Highway, who told the officer that he had also found different plates on his car and reported the incident about a week prior. The officer confiscated the plates on the woman's station wagon and advised her to contact DMV.

Dog Bite, 700 block of Dolores, 10-18-08, 2:46 p.m.: While playing football with his father in Dolores Park, a 7-year-old boy ran past a large dog that was leashed to his owner. Although the owner had a hold of the leash, the Giant Schnauzer suddenly lunged at the boy and bit him on his right elbow. 911 was called, and an ambulance responded, as well as two officers. The owner of the dog showed the officers proof of current vaccinations, as medics treated the boy for two small lacerations and released him to his father. Animal Care and Control arrived and took custody of the dog for quarantine observation.

Theft from Person, Dolores Park public restroom, 10-18-08, 3:05 p.m.: While patrolling the Red Bull Soapbox Race held near Dolores Park, several officers responded to a report of a man stuck in a port-a-potty. When they arrived, the officers knocked on the door, and a man yelled through the closed door that it was jammed One of the officers used his baton to pry open the door which quickly swung open, exposing a man without any pants on. "Where are your pants?" the officer asked. "They got stolen." The man said. He went on to explain he had entered the port-a-potty with another man about two hours earlier, and the two had engaged in consensual sex. After their encounter, he said, his new acquaintance stole his pants, wallet, and backpack and then fled out of the john in an unknown direction. The man locked the door because he was too embarrassed to come out without pants and didn't know what else to do. One of the officers went to Mission Station and retrieved the man a pair of uniform pants, while other officers stood guard at the door. The victim told officers he did not know the suspect, described as a white male, 23 to 26 years old, six feet tall, 165 pounds with blond hair and brown eyes, wearing only light brown shorts and now possibly the victim's pants, black jeans. A search of the area was negative.

Officer Jane Warner is a member of the San Francisco Patrol Special Police, which works in association with the San Francisco Police Department. You can reach her by e-mailing sfpatrol@earthlink.net or calling 559-9955.

Report from Ingleside Station

Ingleside Police Captain Denis O'Leary offers the Voice a monthly crime log for Upper Noe Valley, an area roughly bordered by Cesar Chavez, Guerrero, 30th, and Diamond streets. This month's log covers incidents reported to Ingleside Station from Sept. 16 to Oct. 15, 2008. If you would like to receive Capt. O'Leary's weekly e-mail newsletter, send an e-mail to InglesideStationNewsletter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. You can also view updates and get information online at www.sfgov.org/police.

Battery, first block of Valley, 10-4-08, 8 p.m.: Officer Tovar investigated a Domestic Violence incident and named a 48-year-old Noe Valley man as a suspect. During an initial investigation at the home, a 70-year-old man, the suspect's father, kicked an officer in the leg and was cited for battery. Case #081059256.

Stolen Vehicle, 300 block of Duncan, 10-4-08, 10 p.m.

Aggravated Assault, first block of Valley, 10-5-08, 5 p.m.: Officer Sullivan and Officer Neill served a court order on a Domestic Violence suspect (named in a prior report) and arrested the 48-year-old Noe Valley man for felony battery and aggravated assault. Case #081060009.

Noe Valley falls under the wing of two San Francisco police districts: Mission and Ingleside. Mission police cover the northern half of the neighborhood, including 24th Street, and Ingleside police the southern half, starting at Cesar Chavez Street.

Both districts hold monthly meetings that are open to the public. Mission Police District's community meetings are held on the last Tuesday of the month, at 6 p.m., at Mission Station, 630 Valencia Street near 17th Street. Ingleside's community meetings take place on the third Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., at Ingleside Police Station off Balboa Park at San Jose Avenue.

To speak to an officer at Mission Station, call 558-5400. The station's tip line for anonymous reporting of drug or gang activity is 392-2623. To contact Ingleside, call 404-4000. The Ingleside anonymous tip line is 575-4444. For citywide online reporting and e-mail addresses, go to www.sfgov.org/police.

You can also find crime data, sorted by zip code, at www.CrimeReports.com or http://sf.everyblock.com/.

To report a crime in progress, call 911.

Online Reporting

The SFPD has an online reporting system for the following crimes:

* Lost Property

* Theft

* Vandalism/Graffiti

* Vehicle Tampering

* Vehicle Burglary

* Harassing Phone Calls

Using this system allows you to submit a report and instantly print out a copy. Additional information is available at the SFPD's website: www.sfgov.org/police.